The Village Smithy

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Our lives are lived day-to-day...some days seem better than others. But what if?

Just think about what we have seen in our lives up to now. God never changes.

Romans 8:37-39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Saturday, January 04, 2014

I found these two quotes in my files and just think the New Year is a great time to review our perspectives. A little help from the way others see things can be a great benefit to us."Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him."

~ Oswald Chambers

How you remember last year is more important than what actually happened. Take everything that fuels your growth and leave the rest behind.

It has been too long since I last wrote here. I have been quite busy with a major change in my life. More on that later.

Regarding why we are here on this planet. We have shared those thoughts before but I want to share this group, Building 429 and their song, Not Where I Belong. It was released a month after the last post I made here.

I hope you enjoy it! We can talk more tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening of the 4th day of the year.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

I cannot take credit for this post; but I really like what this writer has to say.

My wife read this and sent it to me today. I think she was reminding me of a truth I sometimes forget as I drive.

A very good reminder of the value of Fresh Air.

Happy New Year! Emery

The Law of the Garbage Truck...

(I had to repost this for the start of a New Year!!)

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he or she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab.

Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.. How often do we let garbage trucks run right over us and how often do we take their garbage and spread it to other people!!

Starting today in our New year let us say I'm not going to do it anymore! The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day! Starting today we will let more garbage trucks pass us by!

Remember "Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets" so love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones who don't!

Happy New Year! It is 2012. WOW. The number seems so 'science fiction' - could be that we grew up in a generation that looked in fascination to a year way in the distance and a book entitled 1984 by George Orwell. But then it came. And went. And many more were added. Each year with its own trials and triumphs.

The title describes my feelings today. Just gotta write today. I am so glad this year began on a Sunday. It seemed just so fitting to go to church this morning and to share communion with our families in intimate little circles. I was overwhelmed at the depth of spiritual desire in the many shared prayers of just common believers and friends. I felt like we are all becoming finely shaped containers to pour out our portion of GOD's awesome grace and mercy to a dry and oh, so thirsty world. We can do this - give a cup of cold water in His name. Yes, we can do this. With His help.

I felt so aware that this coming year will have considerable challenges and even disappointment; but more striking was the realization that we are royalty and that the King has serious plans and desires for each of our journeys this year.

We go through circumstance, we are not under it. Circumstance does not define us, GOD's description of who we are IN HIM is the very essence of what we are here for.

Years ago, in a bible study going through Romans, I asked our pastor, younger than me, why GOD didn't just zap us to Heaven the day we made the choice to live in the way He had selected for us, repenting of going our own stupid direction with all the wrongness and yes, sin of that way of life. I cannot remember the pastor's reply.

Today, I am so glad that while I do not know the number of days I will have, where my journey will take me or even how I will see things in my life, THIS ONE THING I KNOW. It can be found in a question Jesus asked His disciples about where they put their trust. Look at:

John 6:68-69 (NLT)Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.

You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know.

These are powerful words, words that would bring a life-change and a life-cost that only some were willing to pay. I don't claim to understand the life journeys of others, some seem over-the-top too difficult and others seem like they are walking along a beach. This one thing I know. GOD asked me if I would stay faithful. I replied "Yes, I must finish the race. I must finish well." I cannot do that in my own strength, not even close. but in the same passage mentioned above Jesus tells that it is the Father who gave the gift of the Son and He is the One that draws us. Our part is to choose, to continue to choose, to never, never quit, to keep getting back up when life knocks us down. But mostly to remember there is a hand outstretched to us to keep us going.

It will all be worth it. The tests become our testimonies.

We know, we believe, we trust, we know GOD loves us!

2012, we can do all GOD has planned for us and don't tempt me with doubt. I know.

My life is established in Jesus and that is what I know.

Be BLESSED - You already are; I am just inviting you to taste and see !

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Late in 2009, Steve Chase and I founded a non-profit called Bearing Their Burdens.

It is an experiment in obedience. We are not sure what it will look like, but we are asking GOD to show us daily the truth established in this verse:

Galatians 6:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We believe the Bible and we take seriously the commands of Jesus when he said in Matthew 28:

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To be given authority means their is a source of power to do something asked and a responsibility to carry it out fully.

To then be told exactly what to do means there should be no confusion about the task at hand.

To be told Jesus is with us means that we are not doing this alone but in an ongoing cooperative relationship with the Master of the Universe.

So we are doing this every day. We are assuming our responsibility to be available wherever He would lead us and to do and say whatever He would tell us.